As the violence continues in Syria, Human Rights Watch issued a report on Thursday alleging that dozens of Syrian military commanders and officials authorised widespread killings, torture, and illegal arrests during the nine months of anti-government protests.

The 88-page report by the New York-based group is based on more than 60 interviews with defectors from the Syrian military and intelligence agencies.

It identifies 74 commanders and officials behind the alleged abuse.

President Bashar al-Assad's regime claims armed gangs and terrorists are behind the uprising, not protesters seeking freedom and reform in one of the most totalitarian regimes in the Middle East.

The UN raised its death toll for the Syrian uprising substantially this week, saying more 5,000 people have been killed since the start of the protests in March.